Hyundai 4th Largest Automaker, Overtakes Ford

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

According to data published today by Ford, the company sold 5,313,000 units worldwide “to wholesale” (i.e. out of the door.), up 447,000 units or 9.19 percent. With Volvo eliminated, the growth was 771,000 units. Record sales in the U.S.A. and Asia were partially offset by lower sales in Europe. Ford is not strong enough in China to profit like its competitors that are strong in China. One of these competitors is Hyundai.

According to TTAC data, the Hyundai Motor Group (Hyundai and Kia) booked global sales of 5,744,018 units in 2010. With these numbers, Hyundai Motor Group moves up into the #4 spot, Ford slips down to #5.

Top 5 Automakers 2010RankNameProduction1 Toyota Group 8,557,3512 General Motors Group 8,389,7693 Volkswagen Group 7,140,0004 Hyundai Motor Group 5,744,0185 Ford 5,313,000

Ford had held the #3 position until 2006, when Ford was overtaken by the Volkswagen Group. A year before, Hyundai-Kia was in the #9 position. From 2006-2008, Hyundai and Kia reported separately, in 2009, Hyundai and Kia reported as a group again and were in the #4 slot.

The performance of Hyundai, which 10 years ago still was a target of ridicule, a company in a small country of 48 million, deserves respect.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • MattfromOz MattfromOz on Jan 29, 2011

    This move up to the #4 spot also coincides with the year Hyundai managed to be the best selling Asian brand in Europe passing Toyota for the first time! Now this is impressive... Matt http://bestsellingcars.wordpress.com/

  • I_godzuki I_godzuki on Jan 29, 2011

    Yup, don't see how Hyundai ad Kia can be counted together but not Nissan-Renault, given Renault's stake in Nissan is larger than Hyundai's share of Kia.

    • Don1967 Don1967 on Jan 29, 2011

      Hyundai/Kia models are virtual clones of each other, much like Ford/Mercury or Chev/Olds. They are sold together in the same markets, and are often cross-shopped by consumers. Nissan/Renault are related by marriage only. They have limited platform and parts sharing, and often compete in different markets from each other.

  • INeon INeon on Jan 29, 2011

    What about the company we gave Chrysler? How many did they build, inclusive?

    • Marcelo de Vasconcellos Marcelo de Vasconcellos on Jan 29, 2011

      If you count Hyundai-Kia and Renault-Nissan together it should be something like this: 1 - Toyota 2 - GM 3 - VW 4- Hyundai/Kia 5- Renault/Nissan 6 - Ford 7th could be either Honda or Fiat/Chrysler, 8th and 9th is either PSA or Fiat/Chrysler

  • Jpnuss Jpnuss on Jan 29, 2011

    @don1967 Nissan and Renault share platforms, engines, factories, back offices, re-badge some of their models, and even have the same CEO. So why don't you want to count them together? @ Marcelo de Vasconcellos total 2010 sales for Renault-Nissan: 7,276,398 http://www.renault.com/en/Pages/Communique.aspx?idCP=24302

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